Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-07-10
Mr.. nnnycr was openly and frankly

Mrs. Danvcr was openly aud frankly
charmed with her visitor. Accustomed
10 be suppressed in tho family circle,
as not infrequently happens 10 neutral
tinted ladies with strong minded daugh-
tiers, the poor woman found converse.
ton with a grave browcd, deferentiai-
hammered man absolute bliss. She
wore her best silk dress the day he
called. and had quite flush in her
checks as she told him how well one
brothor.in.law was doing at the bar,
and spoke OF the volume OF sermons
Issued hut lately by her other brother
in-law, the Archdeacon, and how her
sister in-law, Emily, had married an
Australian squatter and was rolling in
wealth in Melbourne.
"And the youngest one? There
was a child by a second marriage, was
there not?" the visitor asked, with
some show of interest.
Mrs. Danvcr quailed and shot pitt
full glance toward the man who looked
so handsome and easy and mature rs
he reclincd in one of her faded plush
covered chairs.
ooh. yes-Eliza. She was different
from the others had n different mother,
you know. Eliza was peculiar we
mover could account for half the things
she did she had ways Of her own
al suppose she is married, too. "
"No, Eliza never married"
"But she is alive and well -
"Oh, yes"
els she living in England ?"
"Yes, but We don't see much of her.
The fact is, Mr.. Amherst, that she dis
pleased us all by going into business,
and after that there was less intimacy
between her and her family than there
had been before
Mrs. Danver did not feel herself
called upon to state that at that very
moment Eliza Danver was sauntering
in the park with Clara, her niece, who
had considerably taken her out of the
way for the afternoon.
IikemOst dOwn-trOdden women, Mrs.
Danver was sccretivc her girls were
ashamed Of their aunt. she knew. and
would certainly not wish Mr.. Amherst
TO meet her now that she had fallen 50
for beneath the position to which they
fancicd themselves. Interested in her
children and loyal according to her
lights, she was determined that nothing
from her lips should injure their friend
ship with man like Lionel Amherst.
Easily as the visitor had led up to
family matters, he led away from the
subject Just as easily ; found score OF
pleasant things to say, and, before he
went away, had led Mrs Danyer so far
to forget herself that she invited him
to come and dine with them the fol-
lowing Tuesday.
Mr.. Amherst accepted her invitation
with much pleasure, said something
amiabe about the attraction family
party presented to wanderer like HIM
self, and bowed himself out.
ooh, mother and Aunt Eliza
here i"-Jcssie clied. as soon as the
door closed behind him. "Oh, why
did YOU say Tuesday? If You had
only waited ill Friday she would have
been away"
Nre. panvers face fell. Il forgot
about Eliza, she said, and then mother
and daughter gozod at each other
blanlly.
cater all shel nicc-looling," Mrs.
Danyer venturcd foebly.
"Ob. yes, well enough. 1t is not
her looks one minds, but she will talk
and tell him everything about herself.
Il wonder if l could manage to st
her away before Tuesday" in weak des-
pcation.
"You must not try. Aunt Eliza is
kind in Ter own WY, and, after all, her
regard is OF more value than that Of
Mir. Amherst" But the words came
very despon3cntly, for Jessie felt as
though crushing blow had fallen on
some brilliant possibility.